5 reasons to switch your health insurance in 2025
Is your current insurer giving you the cover you need? We show you why it might be time to make a change.
Sponsored by ahm. Want up to 12 weeks free? Join ahm on eligible combined hospital and extras cover by 1 April and you could get 6 weeks FREE after your first 60 days, and another 6 weeks free after 13 months! Plus, if you choose extras cover with 2 & 6 month waiting periods, we'll waive those waits.* New joins only. Enter promo code 12WFREEWW.
Getting the right health insurance means you also need to find the right health insurer.
1. Flexible extras cover
Getting the right extras cover is a key reason many people switch health insurance providers.
So having flexibility around the extras you choose – and how they're spent – can be extremely handy.
ahm lets you choose from a wide range of extras cover, to better suit the needs of you and your family.^
For a limited time, new ahm members who join by 1 April and maintain eligible combined hospital and extras can get 6 weeks of cover free after their first 60 days. After 13 months, you'll also receive another 6 weeks free.*
That's up to 12 weeks of free cover in total! Just use the code 12WFREEWW at the checkout.
(psst – this can also be a great time to think about what sort of cover you might need in the future, too!)
It can also work out to be more cost-effective, too.
Flexi limits on many ahm extras also let you determine the best way to use your cover over the year.
For example, you might need more dental cover than usual and less physio – it's yours to choose how to use!
2. Skip the waiting period
Most health insurers have a waiting period on extras – you can't usually claim as soon as you become a member.
But the good news is that some insurers don't require a waiting period on some of their insurance products.
ahm offers different covers that do not have waiting periods for certain services like optical, general dental and physio (lifestyle, family and super extras cover only).
So if you make the switch, you can start tackling your healthcare needs as soon as you've joined.
3. No need to re-serve waiting periods
When you move to a different insurer, make sure you're across the fine print that could affect your ability to claim.
If you're switching to a different level of cover or a cover with different services or benefits, you may have to serve waiting periods.
However, if you join ahm within 30 days of leaving your old insurer, ahm will generally recognise any waiting periods you've already served for comparable hospital or extras services—so you can start claiming sooner.# It's also good to know that limits for comparable benefits carry over too.
4. Membership perks to cover your existing costs
Health insurance isn't just about covering specific medical costs.
With the right insurer, you could also score member perks to enhance your overall health, wellbeing and peace of mind.
Switching to ahm unlocks membership perks like a free 6-month membership to the National Pickleball League on eligible covers, savings on prescription glasses and some tax services, and a range of other benefits.
5. Ambulance cover
Ambulances aren't automatically covered by your health insurance or Medicare. Unless you live in Queensland or Tasmania, of course – but even then, you may not be covered for things like travelling interstate.
Unfortunately, many people don't realise this until they need one.
That can be a big bill on top of an injury!
The good news is that ahm includes unlimited emergency ambulance on all extras covers and medically necessary ambulance on all hospital covers.
And there's only a one-day waiting period.